June 19, 2024
National NAIDOC Week 2024 at Peninsula Hot Springs
Written by Amelia
Womindjeka / Welcome. Peninsula Hot Springs acknowledges and pays respect to the Boonwurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation and their living cultural connections to the land and waters of the Mornington Peninsula through their Elders past, present and emerging. Our region is a place of healing where different types of water (fresh, salt and geothermal) come together, along with peoples of many different cultures, to be and to dream in harmony with nature.
National NAIDOC Week is a celebration of the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Occurring from Sunday 7 July to 14 July this year, we are humbled to be joined by various guests who will host sessions in mindfulness and sound as we observe this important time in Australian culture.
Since our establishment in 2005, Peninsula Hot Springs has fostered a strong connection with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who reside and work across the Mornington Peninsula region. We have formed deep cultural partnerships with Wilum Warrain (home by the sea) and Living Culture, have sought counsel and have been profoundly inspired by traditional stories and practices that have shaped our landscape and Indigenous-inspired experiences.
Keep the fire burning! Blak, loud and proud
Chosen by the National NAIDOC Committee, the theme of this year’s celebration is Keep the fire burning! Blak, loud and proud. The theme honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture, as well as their reflective connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples - all symbolised by assembling fire.
NAIDOC Week at Peninsula Hot Springs
Yidaki Sound Healing with Uncle Lionel Lauch
As our first activation in observance of NAIDOC Week, we are welcoming Gunditjmara Kirrae Wurrung-Bundjalung man Uncle Lionel Lauch for a Yidaki Sound Healing event in the immersive setting of our Sound Dome. A skilled and practised healer versed in the ancient aboriginal custom of healing, Lionel will immerse guests in the rhythmic primal sounds of Yidaki as it moves through the body, grounding and creating space for powerful healing to take place.
Lionel has a passion for expanding and sharing his vast knowledge of cultural practices, stories, traditional ceremonies and contemporary engagement programs, embracing opportunities that provide him a platform to share his extensive knowledge of the land and Indigenous cultures and customs.
“I teach respect and healing, and I teach people about the importance of the land. The land can live without us, but we can’t live without Mother Earth”
Uncle Lionel Lauch and his enterprise Living Culture have been delivering cultural programs with Peninsula Hot Springs from the earliest days, and his powerful Yidaki Sound Healing has become a favourite of his – and ours.
Yidaki Sound Healing with Uncle Lionel Lauch is a complimentary event with your Revitalise Bathing experience, however securing your place is essential. Held in a Sound Dome for a session at 4pm.
Bathe in Cinema: Putuparri & the Rainmakers
As we continue our winter schedule each Thursday night, we are delighted to bring guests the Australian documentary film Putuparri & the Rainmakers.
Follow the journey of Aboriginal man Tom ‘Patuparri’ Lawford as he reconnects with his cultural heritage and the sacred rainmaking traditions of his ancestors. The film highlights the deep spiritual connection between Aboriginal people and their land, focusing on the preservation of traditions and stories. It explores several themes that collectively offer a profound insight into the richness of Aboriginal culture and the continuous efforts to preserve it.
Putuparri & the Rainmakers is a film about identity, spiritual connection to land, cultural protection as well and the importance of family ties and community support.
Bathe in Cinema is a complimentary event with your Revitalise Bathing experience. Held in our Amphitheatre on Thursday 11 July at 7:30pm.
Welcome to Country & Smoking Ceremony with Uncle Shane Charles
Initiating our National NAIDOC Week Gala Performance on Friday 12 July is Boon Wurrung, Yorta Yorta and Wurndejri Elder Uncle Shane Charles.
Uncle Shane Charles is a highly experienced and inspirational Aboriginal leader, with a strong knowledge of education and training, justice and cultural heritage within both Aboriginal and mainstream organisations. Co-chair on the board of Reconciliation Australia and the Aboriginal Studies and Indigenous Strategies Committee at La Trobe University, Shane is a passional advocate for reconciliation who enjoy sharing cultural knowledge to make a difference’.
Join us in our Amphitheatre as Uncle Shane Charles guides us through Welcome to Country followed by a traditional Aboriginal smoking ceremony.
Bumpy: Gala performance
Following our official Welcome to Country, we will be joined by Noongar woman and Naarm-based artist Bumpy as a special showcase performer for National NAIDOC Week. We’re inviting guests to experience an Australian artist whose voice ‘ripples stars’, cementing her as one of the nation's most captivating, transportive and towering talents.
Going by her childhood nickname – earned for a habit of bumping into all kinds of obstacles – she pulls from the strength found in tenderness, scars and all. Bumpy’s career has led her to achieve numerous accolades and perform her R&B and neo-soul music on various high-profile stages across the country.
Bumpy’s showcase performance is complimentary to enjoy with your bathing experience and will be held in our open-air Amphitheatre at 6:30pm on Friday 12 July.
